I’ve actually been feeling kinda guilty about neglecting the blog tho I know I have good reason to… Apart from work, I’ve been busy with a personal project that is currently taking up loads of my free time.

As I’ve mentioned before, I still do continue to read many of the LEGO fan sites and blogs and forums, just that I don’t blog about them as often as I used to. Come to think about it, I’ve been shopping much less frequently now so that really shows how busy I’ve been… (hey, shopping is a favourite past time for many Singaporeans!). 🙂

One nugget of info from the last survey that I found interesting was that “Respondents say they are prompted to collect sets because of the theme or unique minifigures or elements. Less than 10% of fans say they’re prompted to collect sets because of a unique box or a box of a different size. However, when asked if the LEGO Group were to create sets with different box sizes and identical contents would they purchase an additional set, nearly half responded that they would.”

Really? Half? I thought most people bought LEGO for the contents and not the boxes? Anyway to find out what the other results are, do visit Brickset’s post here.

If you have been holding out for whatever reason on these sets, wait no longer cos you know the prices will rise once the stores are out of stock. And, these sets are really among the better ones. I think MMV and Emerald Night are destined to be instant classics. As for Star Wars… well, we know how sky-high prices can go right?

If you would like to do something for the tsunami victims in Japan, you may like to have a look at TBB’s charity drive. They have requested for donations in creations and for support in the auctions. (Note: Having grown up hearing and studying WW2 history, I find the logo used quite disturbing tho…)

If you are more practical like me… cash is king, especially when multiplied. I’ve heard of firms (like mine) who are matching dollar-for-dollar any donations made by staff. If not, you can also visit any local Red Cross to make a donation.

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4. Singapore Only: Service Pack for 10213 Shuttle Adventure

I found out about the service pack for Shuttle Adventure some time back (thanks to an email from TS), but never managed to find time to go down to the LEGO Singapore office to collect it.

Luckily, Toy Station/Brickstation now has them in store for those who bought them from TS when it was 1st brought in (like me). So if you are one of those who bought from TS, you may like to pop by the store when you are free. Perhaps to coincide with the expected new stocks coming in next week or the week after? If you are not on TS mailing list, you can follow their blog, facebook or twitter (yeah, very well-networked store) (Side note: Yay, store goodwill index up)

Get the lowdown on your favourite LEGO® Harry Potter™ sets with this exciting companion to the magical world. Includes an exclusive Minifigure.

The magic of Harry Potter™ and the fun of the LEGO® world, now in one incredible book!Since it was first introduced in 2001, LEGO® Harry Potter™ has been one of the LEGO Group’s most popular themes. This incredible guide gives readers an up-close look at the bricks, constructions, and minifigures of the LEGO® Harry Potter universe—from Hogwarts Castle to Hagrid’s hut.You won’t want to miss out on the exclusive inter views with the LEGO® Harry Potter™ team, and special sections allowing you to see, first-hand, how the bricks and figures come to be the toys we love today! The book will also feature a timeline that shows the evolution of the LEGO® Harry Potter™ construction sets, video game and board game.

LEGO® Star Wars™Character Encyclopedia

Pub. Date: 19 Sep 2011

235 x 183mm• 208pp, full colour throughout

US$18.99/£14.99 hardback

ISBN-13: 978-0756686970

ISBN: 9781405373586

Get to know the LEGO® Star Wars™Minifigures: discover rare variants and lots of cool LEGO Star Wars™facts! With an exclusive LEGO StarWars™ Minifigure.

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Update: I don’t know why, but I can’t link the pics to the websites. So to be clear, you have to go to his blog to download the files (LINK HERE) and to Flickr to see the rest of his portfolio (LINK HERE)

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Remember Marcos Bessa? (Yep, he has become a LEGO Designer – read HERE). The good news is that he has kindly put up his LDD files on his blog so you can now download for free his digital creations here from his blog.

I also just notice that Marcos shared his portfolio created in July 2010 for the LEGO Designer position. Here’s a sample:

Via Cygnet from The Ugly Duckling, I found out about Akunthita‘s efforts to find the solution around glued magnets. You really have to read the full article on thebrickbloggerand the full range of experiments she conducted to find the solution. Plus the great pictorial guide on how to unglue the magnets of course.

2. Changes to Instruction Booklet & Sticker Packaging

Via Josh from The Brothers Brick, I found out about better packaging for stickers and instructions for sets with more than 1000 pieces. News about this change has been coming from overseas AFOLs about instructions being packed with a hard cardboard in a sealed plastic sleeve and this officially confirms the change.

Fantasy? No, you can actually do it if you get a Thing-O-Matic 3D Printer Kit from MakerBot. It all gets kinda techical but this article from Guardian explains it well in layman terms. The ‘Printer’ bit is a bit deceiving… the machines are “3D printers build up objects using layers of plastic”.

Oh, and you also have to have at least US$649 (for the most basic Cupcake kit) to US$1225 (for the latest Thing-O-Matic) and wait for up to 7 weeks after placing your order. Remember to order the ABS plastic too. A 5 pound coil of red/blue/green/yellow//pink ABS plastic costs US$65, and a natural one at US$45. Fluorescent red costs more at US$70 for 5 lb and glow in the dark is the most expensive at US$46 for 1 lb.

I was curious and pulled up a comparison of all 3 models… and don’t understand… uhhhh… very very engineering language. If you are game you can read more below.

And… this really reminds me of some in-game “The Sims” kind of gadget. Even the name sounds like one. Come to think of it, I’m sure there was some machine/reward like that in “The Sims 3“…

Yeah, thought I’ll get started on this (picking up LED basics) cos eventually I would have to find some way to have lighted street lamps. It looks kinda strange to have a ‘blacked out’ street when the buildings are lighted. 😦

Never thought my LEGO hobby will have me trying to pick up basic electrical knowledge but hey we live and learn ya?

I think I’ve also found a solution so I won’t have to drill any LEGO pieces in the process of making street lighting… but it would mean going on Crack- I mean BrickLink to get some stuff. Think I’ll try to do up a prototype when I manage to get some electrical equipment to play with.

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I’ve been exploring the Lego.com site and wanted to share some discoveries…

1. Creator Building Tips – Really cool tips from some of your favourite designers can be found using the link below. Being more of a City gal I especially like the tips for corner doors, sliding doors, making furniture, fireplace… (k, you get the idea) but vehicle and creature tips are also available.

3. Star Wars Fun – Of course I would mention Star Wars. Loads of comics and movies (you must have seen the latest being circulated around fan sites…) can be viewed from the SW site. A must for any SW fan.

You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I find this topic to be actually something which I believe I would never understand. It sort of feels too complex and very large for me. I am having a look ahead on your subsequent put up, I will try to get the cling of it!